Non-spillable bottle



July 1957 P. B. MONAHAN NON-SPILLABLE BOTTLE Filed July 12, 1956 INVENTOR PATRICK BERNARD MONAHA/V ATTORNEY United States Patent Ollice p 2,801,015 Patented July 30, 1957 NON-SPILLABLE BOTTLE Patrick Bernard Monahan, Randolph, Mass.

Application July 12, 1956, Serial No. 597,383

2 Claims. (Cl. 215-1) This invention relates to a non-spillable bottle, and it particularly relates to a bottle of this type which is also adapted to prevent outflow of volatile gases from the bottle.

It is well known that perfumes, and especially the more expensive perfumes, are very volatile and tend to evaporate and escape around the stopper. Those volatile gases which do not escape around the stopper do so when the stopper is removed during use. Furthermore, if the bottle is accidentally knocked over, much of the perfume in the liquid state will overflow.

Since perfumes are sold in distinctive bottles, many unscrupulous dealers remove the expensive perfumes from their bottles and substitute cheaper imitations. This is a practice which it is in the public interest to stop.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a perfume bottle which will prevent the escape of the volatile gases generated by the perfume within the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle which will prevent spillage of the major portion of the liquid contents of the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle which cannot easily be emptied and re-filled.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved bottle, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

'Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a bottle embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the neck of the bottle of Fig. 1, showing it in the process of being filled.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the bottle of Fig. 1 shown in tilted position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the bottle of Fig. 1, with the stopper in place.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the filling apparatus for the bottle.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a bottle 10 having a flat bottom surface 12 and a curved side wall 14 extending to a top opening 16. The bottle is shown as constructed of glass although any other desired material can be used.

A tube 18 having a conical, open, upper end 20 and a closed lower end 22 is positioned in the bottle with its upper end extending into opening 16 and its lower end positioned in a recess 24 centrally positioned in the conical upper surface 26 of the bottom of the bottle. A

lateralopening 28 is provided in the side of the tube 18 adjacent its closed lower end. Intermediate the ends of the tube, there is provided an outwardly positioned channel 30 extending from a .position spaced from the top of the tube to the side opening 28.

The above-described bottle provides a relatively airtight container which prevents spillage or evaporation of the contents. This is provided by the opening or slot 28 in the tube which permits only one charge of liquid at a time to enter the tube. When the bottle is tilted just beyond the horizontal plane, atmospheric pressure will form a bubble of air that will pass through the channel 30 above the liquid-filled tube, and through the slot 28 into the area 33, shown in Fig. 4, where it acts to relieve the vacuum. This permits the charge of liquid in the tube to flow out. However, the remainder of the liquid is now below the slot 28 so that additional liquid cannot flow out until the bottle is tipped back to the vertical position so that more liquid can flow through the slot 28 into the scoop-like closed end of the tube. In this manner, each time the bottle is tipped beyond the horizontal, it delivers a few drops of liquid. The amount of liquid delivered can, of course, be regulated by providing different sized tubes.

The provision of a channel, such as shown at 30, which is in fluid connection along its length with the tube 18, permits the atmospheric air to flow above the liquid in the tube which is pressed down by gravity. This distinguishes over the use of two separate tubes since two separate tubes would each receive a charge of liquid and both would tend to become air-locked. In the present instance, however, the cohesion of the liquid and the capillary attraction of the larger diameter tube, plus the force of the atmosphere on top of the liquid has a tendency to keep the liquid below the channel 30.

The bottle 10 may be refilled in various ways with the use of an air expeller. One of the methods of refilling the bottle is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, and includes the use of a flexible tube 34, constructed of rubber or the like, which is inserted into the tube 18 through the mouth 20 of the tube 18. This flexible tube 34 is forced down through tube 18 and out through the slot 28, by means of a steel wire 36 or the like. This wire is inserted into tube 34 and the tube, which is thereby, in effect, threaded on the wire, is forced down, through the slot 28 and up toward the top of the bottle, into the position indicated in 'Fig. 1. A funnel 38 is then inserted, over the tube 34, into the mouth 20 of the tube 18. The liquid is then .poured into the funnel, and as it flows down through tube 18 and out slot 28, it forces the air in the bottle into the flexible tube, through which it flows out to atmosphere. This may continue until the liquid reaches the top of the bottle. The wire 36 may either be retained in the flexible tube during use or withdrawn after the flexible tube has assumed its position. A handle 40 is provided on the end of the wire. This handle serves not only as a convenient gripping means but also as a stop to prevent the wire from falling into the flexible tube.

After the bottle has been refilled in the manner set forth above, the flexible tube and the funnel are withdrawn and the stopper 32 is placed in position. This stopper is of the ordinary perfume applicator type, having a long stem 42 extending into the tube 18 to be immersed in the perfume charge held therein.

A method more suited to mass production methods of refilling is illustrated in Fig. 6 and comprises the use of a manifold 44 from opposite sides of which extend a line 46, leading to a vacuum means, and a line 48 leading to a source of pressure. Interposed in the manifold 44 is a two-way valve 50 from which leads a conduit 52 extending through a stopper 54. In operation, the two-way valve is moved to connect line 52 with vacuum line 46 to V extract the air from the bottle. After a predetermined number of inches of vacuum have been created in the bottle, the two-way valve'is reversed to close the vacuum. line and to open the pressure line 43. The perfume or other; liquid is then introduced through line 48, under pressure, into the bottle. A hand valve is provided on each line 46 and 48', as at 50 and 52', to control the flo through their respective lines. 7

5 Although this invention has been described in consid-. erable detail, such description is intended as being illus trative rather than limiting, since the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of j 15 invention, what is claimed is: a r s l. A non-spillable bottle comprising a container haw ing an open mouth, a closed tube extending from said. mouth to the bottom of said bottle, said tube having an opening at its upper end coinciding with saidmouth and a slot in its side wall adjacent its closed lower'end, and a .channel' situated laterally of said tube and in fluid communication therewith along its length, said channel extending longitudinally of said "tube iron attain the tubes upper portion I0 saidslot, the opening at the upper end of said tube being conical in shape and being adapted to receive a complementary-shaped stopper.-

2. A non-spillable bottle comprising a container having an open mouth, a closed tube extending from said mouth to the bottom of said bottle, said tube having an opening at its upper end coinciding with said mouth and a slot in its side Wall adjacent its closed lower end, and a channel situated laterally of said tube and in fluid communication therewith along its length, said channel extending longitudinally of said tube from adjacent the tubes upper portion to said slot, said tube being connected to the bottle at its upper end and being set in. a recess in the bottom of said bottle. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scott et a1. Jami-20,1942 

